Bakkers to Move but Won’t Give Up Claim

Jim and Tammy Bakker sent word through an attorney Tuesday that they will move from their former parsonage here, but apparently they haven’t surrendered in the battle over ownership.

Lawyer James Toms said at a news conference outside the $1.3-million lakeside home that the Bakkers hoped “trusted friends” would help them work out details of the PTL ministry’s leadership with the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Asked if that meant the Bakkers are giving up their plan to take back the home, Toms said, “On the contrary.”

Lawyers have advised the Bakkers that they own the house and can substantiate the claim, although they don’t have a title, Toms said.

They’re Not Welcome

Falwell says the house belongs to PTL and the Bakkers are not welcome to return to the ministry.

“We had hoped all along that the Bakkers would within a reasonable amount of time get their belongings and move into one of the homes they currently own,” said Mark DeMoss, a spokesman for Falwell. “We didn’t think they had intentions of living forever in a home they did not own.”

DeMoss said he saw no need for the Bakkers or their lawyers to use “trusted friends” to deal with Falwell.

Falwell took over the debt-and-scandal ridden PTL ministry in March at Bakker’s invitation after Bakker admitted to a sexual encounter with a former church secretary.

The Bakkers returned to the Tega Cay home June 10, their first trip back to the home or the PTL ministry since Bakker’s downfall. Bakker was brought down when he admitted the incident with the secretary, who was later paid “hush money” out of ministry funds.

Toms said the Bakkers would “leave soon for the mountains,” possibly Wednesday, to rest before returning to the Tega Cay house to pack their belongings. After that, they will stay at a home in Gatlinburg, Tenn., he said.

The Bakkers last week put their Palm Springs house on the market. The five-bedroom house, which has a guest cottage and pool, is listed at $600,000 unfurnished or $700,000 furnished.

Toms said the Bakkers were vacating the Tega Cay house to demonstrate that they were putting the ministry ahead of material gain.

“They’re (the Bakkers) asking for mediation, forgiveness, reconciliation; a process to see what will become of the PTL ministry without particularly providing that they go back to it,” Toms said.

The Bakkers claimed that PTL’s old board of directors gave the Tega Cay home to them. PTL’s new management said last week that the Bakkers own only 5%.

Hope to Return to TV

Two days after the Bakkers returned to South Carolina, PTL filed for reorganization in bankruptcy court, listing debts of $72 million to 1,400 creditors.

Toms said the Bakkers still hope to return to television.

“They do want a future ministry. They are waiting to see where it will be and under what circumstances,” Toms said.

Toms is a counsel for San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli, who agreed last weekend to represent the Bakkers.